WANDERERS cannot hide from the fact there is something more than points riding on their next two games.
That’s the honest opinion of Steven Schumacher as he sends his Bolton side into action in two all-Lancashire battles at Blackpool and Wigan in the next five days looking to chase down a play-off spot.
The Whites’ recent record against local rivals has been heavily scrutinised by fans and nowhere has been less hospitable than their next destination, Bloomfield Road, where they are without a win since 1977.
It has also been a decade since Bolton beat their near-neighbours Wigan, and Schumacher is well aware of what is at stake in both cases.
“The players have got to be aware of how important it is, because it's important for the fans,” he told The Bolton News. “It's not just a normal game.
“I'm being careful not to give a mad headline, but it's not just a normal game, because there is more at stake. From a point of three points, of course it is worth three points, but there is also more at stake because there are bragging rights, and that means a lot to the supporters.
“I've always been a coach who's emphasised that. When I was manager at Plymouth Argyle we’d have games at Exeter City. We hyped that one up and we managed to go there and beat them twice.
“That's what you have to do, because the players need to understand what it means to the fans, so that's what we'll do. But from a performance point of view, you have to stick to the plan.
“You don't go and change your gameplan or go and change how you approach a game or how you prepare a game, more so because it's a local rivalry. You've just got to be consistent with it, and that should be enough.”
Schumacher finished up on the wrong side of his first game against North West neighbours Stockport before the international break and maintains that the performance on the day was not a major concern.
He does, however, feel that his side must make more of the scoring opportunities they create.
“It was a tight game and it was real quality from both teams at times, especially in the first half,” he said. “We had a huge chance right after half time to score, didn't take it, they got one big moment in the second half, took it, and the game was decided in a small margin.
“So in those big rivalry games, that tends to be what is the case, because both teams are always up for it, so if the teams who can be the most clinical will come out on top and make the fewest mistakes.
“So that's all we'll try and do, just tell the players to stick to the plan, try and focus on what we've been telling them about Blackpool's strengths and areas where we feel as though we can hurt them.
“And if we can stick to the plan and put the effort in, get to the intensity level that we're going to need, then hopefully that will be enough to get the result that we want.”
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